‘I packed some of your stuff for you,’ said Shauna, dumping the case at Claire’s feet. She came in close to Claire, stared at her, nose to nose. ‘So you go tonight, you got that? And you never come back. I hear so much as a whisper that you’ve been in touch with anyone on the campsite, I’ll get them. And then I swear I’ll come and get you.’

Claire was trembling with terror. She nodded. Right now, with Blue dead in front of her, Ciaran Cleaver restraining her and Shauna looking at her like that, she would have agreed to anything. ‘All right. I’ll go.’

‘Good,’ said Shauna, and moved away down the aisle. Then she glanced back at Ciaran, at Jeb. ‘All yours,’ she said.

Claire watched her go for a moment, then suddenly she knew what was to happen next. Ciaran shoved her from behind. She sprawled forward and fell on to the hard flagstones, bruising her knees and her arm. Pain seared through her left wrist. Jeb came closer too. Panicking, Claire started to scrabble to her feet. Jeb shoved her back down.

‘No!’ she cried out, but Ciaran was on her in an instant, pinning her with his weight.

‘Hold her,’ he said to Jeb, and Jeb grabbed her flailing arms while Ciaran started pulling at her clothes.

Oh Christ, help me! thought Claire.

But no one came. No one helped.

Outside in the hot still air, Shauna heard Claire’s screams. No one else would, of course; the church was well out of the way. She heard Claire’s frantic cries, and she relished them.

Now, with that troublesome little cunt out of the way, the field would be clear. Josh Flynn would – at last – be hers. She would make sure of it.

12

12

When Shauna got back to the camp, she felt a guilty start as she saw a big figure moving across the clearing. He had a bag in his hand and was lit by bright moonlight, the dying fire and the fainter glow of the tilley lamps.

‘Josh?’ she called out, feeling her cheeks go red. She was thankful for the semi-darkness. Her hands were shaking and her guts churned up. She had committed herself to a great goal now, and standing right here in front of her was the prize at the end of it: Josh Flynn. She’d wanted him for so long, and now . . . She thought of Claire Milo down there in the dell, getting God knew what done to her by the Cleavers. She had caused that. And the killing of the dog. But this was all part of the plan and it was no good having doubts now. She had to press on with this.

‘Josh?’ she said again when he didn’t answer. ‘What the fuck’s going on?’